County expands sexual misconduct investigation into DA

NATASHA LINDSTROM Staff Writer

Monday

Nov 16, 2009 at 1:00 PMNov 16, 2009 at 1:58 PM

SAN BERNARDINO -- The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is set to approve a $140,000 contract that expands an investigation into District Attorney Michael Ramos for alleged sexual misconduct with a female employee.

In late July, 3rd District Supervisor Neil Derry called for a probe into Ramos after a woman filed a claim through Derry's office stating Ramos sexually harassed her.

Ramos then issued a statement denouncing the allegations, which he called an attack on him and his office in retaliation of his office's ongoing public corruption investigation. That effort began in the county Assessor's office and led to charging Derry's former chief of staff, Jim Erwin, with 10 felony counts for misreporting gifts.

In August the county authorized $75,000 to hire law firm Curiale Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP to investigate the allegations against Ramos. Such contracts under $100,000 do not require board approval.

But according to Tuesday's board agenda, the investigation into Ramos "has become more complex," hiking its costs.

"In general terms cases like this become more complex when various people are interviewed and those people who are interviewed mention other names, and so additional interviews are necessary... in this type of investigation, one thing leads to another," said county spokesman David Wert, declining to comment on specifics or a timeline for the investigation.

Among other items of interest on Tuesday's agenda:

• Accept $8.1 million for early childhood programs — The federal "stimulus" funds will be spent on early child and family development for 354 infants, toddlers and pregnant women and 34 contract teaching and support positions countywide. Remaining funds will be spent on operating expenses and various home-based and contract services for programs and facilities, including $863,000 for various new sites, including a potential site at Victor Valley College.

• Prepare distribution of H1N1 vaccines to schools — Supervisors will authorize the Department of Public Health to partner with the county's 33 school districts to distribute H1N1, or swine flu, vaccines at school sites, costing $3.1 million in state funds.

• Approve Adelanto and Victor Valley sheriff merger— Combining Victor Valley sheriff's and Adelanto's sheriff's stations is estimated to save the city of Adelanto $413,000 in consolidating positions. The move also frees up Desert Control Center dispatch for future expansion.

• Consider releasing county employee— During closed session, supervisors will evaluate and consider firing a county employee.

The public meeting begins 10 a.m. Tuesday in the San Bernardino County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in San Bernardino. The agenda and live meeting and can be viewed online at www.SBCounty.gov/main/countyvision.asp/.

Natasha Lindstrom may be reached at (760) 951-6232 or at nlindstrom@VVDailyPress.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.